A Prayer for the New Year

Monday January 8

God of the ancient of days
God of the days to come
God of this new day

Help me to praise you in
this ‘bleak midwinter’ time.

I would hear you
in the music of each raindrop
in the soughing of the wind in the wood
in the settling of the snowflake
as it finds its resting place.

I would see you
in the scudding of the clouds
in the rushing of the waves
in the flight of the birds
and the foraging of wintering creatures.

I would feel you
in the warmth of a hearth
in the touch of a loving friend
in the laughter of children
and the beauty of a starlit sky.

BUT WHEN I CANNOT
and your presence is hidden
in the cares of the day
in the fears for the future
in the sounds of war and crying
pain and hatred
Help me to trust
that you hear me
that you see me
that you feel what I feel.

For you are one
with the raindrop
with the wave
with the snowflake
and the wild ones.

You lie down
with the children of pain
with all who suffer
with all who weep
with all who grieve.

In this ‘bleak midwinter’ time
you are our hope
at the threshold
of this New Year.

This moment in eternity
is held in your embrace.
We are seen and heard and loved
and somehow
all will be well.
Amen.